four years ago barack obama faced john mccain on the debate stage, according to gallup voters judged him the winner by double digit margins and on one won it by an astounding 33 point margin. >> he's done this a lot, good at it and will be the winner. do you think it's as simple if you win the debate, you can win the election here? >> i think it's a lot more than that. people are going to -- people are looking for somebody to be president and a good president, looking for somebody that understands the concerns of the middle class, looking for somebody who has a plan to build an economy for the middle class. in the end, that's what this will come down to. the debates are an important moment but a lot more than who wins one debate or another debate. >> what do you think obama's biggest challenge will be? what are his advisors telling him? getting him to speak off-the-cuff? is that his biggest challenge? >> look, i think you never know what questions are going to be asked, certainly the president has not asked for, you know, my advice or what i expect he will. he has a very good message